Socio-economic ties with Myanmar stressed

- Naga delegates attend 1st NE India-Myanmar regional business conclave -
State minister for industries & commerce S. Pangnyu Phom has stressed on exploring possibilities of how people-to-people contacts could be increased between ethnic groups on both sides of Indo-Myanmar border so as to strengthen ties between the two countries.

According to a DIPR report, Pangnyu made this point while delivering the key note address at the inaugural session of the first two-day North East India-Myanmar Regional Business & Investment Conclave on May 28 in Monywa.

The minister also urged both India and Myanmar authorities to work on operationalizing the third border trade point at Avakhung-Pansat/Somra and onward to Leshi stating that the two countries already had two operational border trade points - Moreh-Tamu and Zowkhatar-Rhi.

He also proposed opening of border trade routes from Chenmoho (Nagaland) to Yangchong (Myanmar), Pangsha (Nagaland) to Hempu (Myanmar) and Monyakshu (Nagaland) to Yangching (Myanmar).

Minister for forests, ecology, environment & wildlife & border affairs Y. Patton who also spoke on the occasion said there should be border road connectivity all along the border of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram with Myanmar.

He on behalf of the state government also invited chief minister of Sagaing region U Than Aye to attend the Hornbill festival 2013 during the first week of December which would coincide with 50 years of Nagaland statehood.

The two-day investment conclave in Monywa (May 28-May 29) was attended by seven-member delegate from Nagaland.